Can opener



V. AUGE CAN OPENER Aug. 10, 1937.

2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 14, 1935 S E S m N W W y ATTORN 5 Aug. 10, 1937. v v. AUGE 2,089,822

CAN OPENER Filed Nov. 14, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 WITNESSES INVENTOR Vin cas JZuye MJ BY ATTORNE Patented Aug. 10, 1937 PATENT OFFICE CAN OPENER Vincas Auge, Union Township, Union County, N. J.

Application November 14, 1935, Serial No. 49,801

6 Claims.

This invention relates to can openers, an object of the invention being to provide a simple, efficient, strong and durable can opener which can be readily manipulated to cut the top or side of a metal container, commonly known as a can, and which can be manufactured so cheaply as to provide each can with a can opener fragilely attached to the can so that it is in convenient position for removal and use.

in A further. object is to provide a can opener which will give a smooth out and overcome the difliculties of ordinary can openers which leave a wavy cut endangering the operators hands and preventing the removal of contents in bulk, such l5 as pressed meat or fish. My invention provides a device which is very compact, simple to manufacture, and lends itself advantageously to the general use required, either as a separate opener or it may be applied to a can of any shape, thus providing handy means for opening.

Another object of this invention is to provide, in a device of this character, a reciprocating convex cutter in combination with cutter guides and cutter fulcra of novel and eificient action adapted to automatically advancing and maintaining the cutting edge adjacent to the can seam.

A further object is the provision of means for insuring the advance of the cutter causing the device to be movable upon a plurality of fulcrums by imparting to the device a rocking or oscillating movement during its cutting operation.

With these and other objects in view the invention consists in certain novel features of construction and combinations and arrangements of parts, all of which will be more fully hereinafter described and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings- Fig. l is a view in elevation illustrating a pre-- ferred embodiment of my improved can opener;

Fig. 2 is a view in longitudinal section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a view in transverse section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view in elevation illustrating the initial position of the can opener on a can to begin the cutting operation;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view in vertical section on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 4, showing what may be termed the completion of the first cycle of operation, that is, a complete movement of the upper end of the can opener to the left;

| Fig. '7 is a fragmentary view in vertical section on the line of Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a view similar to Figs. 4 and 6, illustrating what may be termed the second cycle of operation which is a movement of the upper end of the can opener partially to the right;

Fig. 9 is a view similar to Figs. 4, 6, and 8, showing what may be termed a completion of the 5 third cycle of operation which is a complete movement of the upper end of the can opener to the right; 1

Fig. 10 is a perspective view illustrating my improved can opener attached to an angular can; 10

Fig. 11 is a view similar to Fig. 10 illustrating a slightly modified form of can opener removably attached to a circular form of can;

Fig. 12 is a fragmentary view in vertical section showing the position of my improved can opener when cutting the side of the can as distinguished from the top thereof;

Fig. 13 is a perspective view of a modified form of my can opener;

v Fig. 14 is a fragmentary view in vertical sec- 20 tion illustrating the can opener shown in Fig. 13 in operative position to cut a can.

Referring more particularly to Figs. 1 to 9 inclusive of the drawings, 1 represents a bar or plate of metal which constitutes a blank and 25 which throughout its lower portion is of somewhat the shape of a spear head or arrow head and which at its upper end is preferably provided with inturned portions 2 to afford a smooth and easy grip for the hand to manipulate the 30 device. The lower end of the bar or plate I is stamped or otherwise treated to provide a laterally offset blade 3, the line of attachment or point of offset of said blade being angularly disposed relevant to the longitudinal axis of the bar, as 35 shown at 4, and the remainder of the bar at its lower portion constitutes a blade guide 5. The blade has two curved and convex cutting edges 6 and 1 respectively, and adjacent the upper edges of these cutting edges 1 the bar or blank is pro- 40 vided with shoulders 8 and 9 respectively, which constitute fulcrums. The blade guide 5 is provided with an ofiset 111% I0 which also constitutes a fulcrum, and this lug Ill, as shown in most of the figures of the drawings, is offset from the 45 inner edge of the blade guide in substantial parallelism with the cutting edge 6 and adjacent the sharp apex ll of blade 3.

Furthermore it will be noted, particularly by reference to Fig. 3 of the drawings, that the blade 5 3 is disposed at an angle to the transverse plane of the blade guide, and it is of course to be noted that sufiicient metal is removed between the cutting edges of the blade and the guide 5 to insure a proper operation of the tool. 55

Figs. 4 to 9 inclusive illustrate the several cycles or steps in the operation of cutting a can top, and the can is indicated by the reference character l2 and is provided with the ordinary seam [3 at 5 its end. The initial position of the cutter is shown in Fig. 4 with the sharp apex l I of the blade resting upon the upper end of the can adjacent the seam l3 and the lug l0 located under the seam at the outer portion of the can. The first step or it) cycle is-"to utilize: this lug ID as a fulcruin under the seam l3 and swing the upper end of the device to the left, bringing the opener to the position- V blade laterally offset therefrom and a fulcrum lug "olfset laterally from the blade guide and shown in Fig. 6, and during this movement the blade will puncture the can top and cut through the same as indicated by the dotted lines in Fig. 6. The next cycle is to move the upper end of the i can opener to the right, utilizing the shoulder 9 as a fulcrum and swinging the device to the position shown in Fig. 8. The next cycle is to complete the swinging movement to the right, utilizing the sho'ulder 8- as a fulcrum, bringing the tool to the positionrshown in Fig. 9. These cycles are then repeated, ofcourse advancing theblade as each complete setof cycles is ended.

As illustrated in Fig. 10 of the drawings, the

' 'cani'opener may be more or less fragilely connected to a can, and I have shown in Fig. 10 the can as of angular form, as it is obvious that the 'c'ari'lopener may be used on an angular can as well ason a circular one. When in position on top of the can the lug I0 projects over the can seam-and one corner of the handle portion of the blank may rest against the inner portion of the seam-and a spot weld, drop of solder, or any other securingdevice may be employed to temporarily holdthe can opener in place.

1 Fig, 11 illustrates'my improved can'opener conriected to and supported upon a circular can, and in this view I illustrate a slight modification in ago tha'tftheflug 14 corresponding to lug ID of the prefer-red form is at the outer edge of the guide 5 instead of at 'the inner edge, and an additional lug 15 extends from the edge of the device, and looth'of 'these lugs are positioned over the seam $Fl5 of'thecan. V

f "Fig. 12 illustrates the fact that my improved can opener may be utilized to cut the side wall of the can and shows the position of the can opener infperforming this function.

1.50 ff; Figs 1 3and 14 illustrate a modified form' of can opener in'fwhich the bar or blank I 1 pm 'yided with-an integral transversely extending bar 16 having oppositely curved ends I! and late fafiord thumb 'and finger holds in the manipula Z tion of the device. In other respects the can 'openerjjisfconstructed like that above described and operates in the same manner except of course that the-bar 'I 6 in the modification is grasped instead of the u'pper end of the bar or blank. 1 a

I. will be noted that the fulcrum lug 10 has 7 rp co'rners and as this fulcrum lug lies close against the "surface of the can it'will scratch the pan body or mutilate'the label on the can body, as indicatedatilfl in Fig. 9 of the drawings. This automaticallymutilates the surface of the can lobdyfwhen the can is opened. Such defacement is particularlydesirable on lithographed cansas more expensive products are packed in decorated cans and are subject to illegal use and refilling.

While l: have illustrated several modifications of my invention and pointed out in detail the preferred embodiments thereof, it is to be distinctly understood that I do not wish to limit myself to the precise details set forth but consider myself at liberty to make such changes and alterations as fairly fall .within the spirit and scope of the appendedjclaims. i

I claim:

.1. A can opener, including a blade guide, a

located at a point adjacent the apex of the blade, said' blade guide having shoulders adjacent the u per extremities of the cutting edges of the blade which also constitute fulcrums,

2. Acan opener comprising a blank, a blade laterally ofiset from said blank and having con- .vexly curved cutting edges and asharp apex at itslower end, and a blade guide in juxtaposition to-the edges of the blade and having three fulcrumpo-ints one adjacent the apex of the blade and the others adjacent the upper extremities of the cutting edges of the blade.

3. Arcan opener comprising a blank, a blade laterallyoifset from said blank and having con- Vexly curved cutting edges and ausharp apex at its lower, end, and ablade guide in juxtaposition to the edges of. the blade and having three fulcrum points, one adjacent the apex of the blade and the others adjacent the upper extremities of:..the cuttingedges ,of the blade, said blade offset fromzthe-blank at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the blank. i

4. A canopener comprising a blank, a blade laterally offset from said blank and having convexly curved cutting edges and a sharp apex at its lower end,-and a blade guide in juxtaposition to the edges of the blade and having three fulcrum-points, one adjacent the apex of the blade and the others adjacent the upper extremities ofthe cutting edges of the blade, and a handgripping bar; at right angles to and integral with one end of the blank. I 5.-;A :can opener,,-including a blade guide, a blade laterally offset therefrom, and a fulcrum lug offset laterally from the blade guide and located at apoint adjacent the apex of the blade,

said fulcrum lug being relatively sharp and adaptfid whenthe can opener is operated to cut through one wall of the can body todeface the surface of another wall of the can body.

- 6. ,A can opener comprising a blank having a handle thereon said blank being of general spear-head shape and'of sheet metal, a blade out out of the bodyof theblank and laterally offset therefrom. and of. the same general spear-head shape as the blank said blade having sharpened edges, a laterally offset lug at the innerv edge ofthe blank adjacent the apex of the blade and constituting a fulcrum to engage under the seam of-a can, ,and said-blank having two fulcrum points at iopposite sides and at the upper end of 5 the blade.

; -VINCAS AUGE. 

